Leonard, Joseph excited about coming to San Antonio

Spurs No. 1 draft choices Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph both expressed delight about coming to San Antonio during an introductory press conference Saturday afternoon at the team’s training facility.

Leonard was acquired after he was chosen by Indiana with the 15th pick in the draft. He then was traded to the Spurs along with the draft rights to Pacers 2005 draft pick Erazem Lorbek and Indiana second-round pick Davis Bertans in a trade for guard George Hill.

Joseph was acquired with the team’s No. 29 pick late in the first round. It marked the first time the Spurs had two first-round picks in the same draft since choosing David Robinson and Greg Anderson in 1987.

The acquisition of Leonard, a 6-foot-7 forward from San Diego State, is noteworthy as he’s the earliest first-round pick the Spurs have acquired since picking Tim Duncan No. 1 in the 1997 draft. It also represented the Spurs’ boldest draft-day move in the R.C. Buford/Gregg Popovich organizational era.

“I felt good about it,” said Leonard, who said he was notified of the trade a few minutes after Indiana initially picked him. “I know the Spurs team and I’m just happy to be in an organization that really wants me.”

Joseph, a 6-foot-3 point guard, becomes the first Spurs player to be selected out of the nearby University of Texas since 1987. The Toronto native led Longhorns in minutes played, 3-point percentage and assists as a freshman.

“I know the team is very close and it’s a great organization,” said Joseph, who was a teammate of Alexis Wangmene, the adopted son of Buford while at Texas. “I was very happy.”

More will be coming later this afternoon after interviews with both of these new Spurs players.